Perspective...

It has only been a few weeks, and my perspective has changed on many things. I just pulled myself from the swirling informational vortex that is youtube to write this. I stumbled across Ido Portal. Don't know who Ido Portal is? As of 15 minutes ago, neither did I. He's amazing. Come to find out, he follows a Paleo lifestyle.

I decided to find his channel on Youtube and subscribe. After two or three videos, I realized that as I looked at the people - I kept saying to myself, "She looks so healthy, so flexible. He looks healthy, strong."

I stopped looking at people as fat and skinny.

Let that sink in.

Healthy, fit, strong, flexible. Not one thought about weight, no comparisons, no feelings of guilt, depression - as I watched other people move.

I realize that I'm on a journey, and while my body feels like a prison now. It won't be that way forever. I want to be healthy, fit, strong and flexible. I don't care about being skinny anymore. I just want to move.

6.3 lbs in 4 days...

Just in case you missed that:

6.3 lbs in 4 days!

My starting weight was 253.7 on March 16th, 2013. Today, on the 20th - it is 257.4. Now, let me remind you that I GAINED 16 LBS ON NUTRISYSTEM.

I have read that people lose weight quickly without sugar, wheat, grains, etc. But, I never anticipated this because NOTHING HAS EVER WORKED FOR ME previously. I am eating bacon, red meat, and I am losing weight lol. I'm ecstatic. I'm still going through wheat/sugar withdrawals. If you don't know why, you obviously didn't take my recommendation seriously and check out Dr. Davis's blog. (do yourself a favor, and check it out.)

My husband was worse off as far as withdrawal than I was those first few days. But, guess what? He's also LOST 6 LBS. 

Here's what we've done:

Cleaned out our cupboards, pantry and refrigerator. No sugar. No grain. No wheat. No bread. No pasta. No dairy other than a little creamer in our coffee in the AM (1 cup). 

Eating healthy organic grass-fed meats, veggies, oils, nuts, eggs. 

Admittedly, all of our meat and produce isn't organic. We just haven't been able to find all the sources we need, yet. But, we've supplemented about 75% of our diet with it. We've been using coconut oil, almond oil, almond flour, coconut milk. 

We have been struggling with lunch-type meals, but we're working on it. I'm tempted to buy cold cuts, but I haven't found anything that isn't filled with a bunch of processed chemicals etc.

So far, so good. Can't wait to see how I feel a month from now.

Primal/Paleo & Wheat Belly

I've been searching for years for something to help me lose weight. I'd lived my life by the food pyramid for the last 5 years; healthy whole grains, vegetables, low-fat replacements, healthy cuts of meat in moderation. According to the USDA, I should be lean - trim - and healthy. I'm not. I'm sick, fat, infertile and in pain. As a last ditch effort, I tried Nutrisystem. I gained 16 lbs. while on Nutrisystem. While exercising and eating properly. I sunk into a deep, dark hole of depression. Why me? Why can't I have a normal body? Why do I have to work so much harder than normal people to be... normal. I stopped the Nutrisystem. I was always hungry, felt bloated, my bowel movements were excruciating. The food was terrible, too.

A few months ago, I'd seen a friend on FB post something about a Primal diet. I dismissed it. Stupid fad diets, they don't work - I thought to myself. Fast forward a few months, and I'd hit my heaviest at 263.7 lbs. One lonely night, while my husband slumbered in the other room, I was up - unable to sleep. Again. I decided to google "PCOS Primal". Surprisingly, I got a LOT of hits. The first link I clicked on was www.primalgirl.com. I read her entire blog, shocked. She had completely turned her health around in 3 years, was the mother of two beautiful children, AND was slender and happy. Her writing style was so frank, her passion for the Primal way of living was palpable. I commented on a few threads, and she wrote me back. I dove head-first into researching the way of life.

After a few days, I was sold. After a few more communications with her, she suggested the book "Wheat Belly". I was blown away.

Suddenly, everything made sense.

I'm not fat because of PCOS. My PCOS wasn't passed down from my mother (who is a mother of three).

I'm fat because I've been eating wheat, grains, processed foods and sugar.

I was stunned. Red meat isn't the enemy. Butter isn't the enemy.

I read on, finding that there are nuances to the lifestyle. Primal vs. Paleo, dairy vs. no dairy.

I took a gamble. I figured that if what I was doing was making me fatter, there was a good chance that by doing the exact opposite might result in the exact opposite.

I discussed it with my husband. I showed him the pages and pages and pages of success stories from women who had PCOS and reversed the symptoms with the Primal Lifestyle.

I thought to myself, "You mean that I could lose weight? Stop having headaches? Grow my hair back? Possibly have children? Sign me up!"

At this point - I've got nothing to lose and everything to gain. So, we did.

I'm not going to regurgitate everything I've learned in the last few weeks, it's just too much. Instead, here are the links to the websites that fed my curiosity and contain the info you need.

The Primal Lifestyle: www.marksdailyapple.com and www.primalgirl.com

Wheat and its effects (evil, evil wheat lol.): www.wheatbellyblog.com

The Books: The Primal Blueprint by Mark Sisson, Wheat Belly by Dr. William Davis, Rich Food - Poor Food by Mira Calton, Jayson Calton, with William Davis and Mark Sisson.

Recipe books: Don't bother. There is a wealth of information on the internet. There are Paleo/Primal/Wheat-Grain-Gluten/Sugar Free recipes by the thousands, for free, online. I recommend downloading Evernote, and clipping recipes as you go. (Evernote is AWESOME).

On my Way

The Problem - I'm 31 years old, and I have PCOS. Doctors haven't tried to do anything to help, but treat the symptoms - not the problems. On March 16th, 2013 - I weighed 263.7 lbs. I'm 5' 3" tall.

- I SUFFER From -

Hirsutism: This condition produces excess hair growth on the face, chest, abdomen, thumbs, or toes.

Thinning hair: PCOS can cause androgenic alopecia--scalp hair loss--in a classic “male baldness” pattern.

Acne/oily skin: In women with PCOS, oil production is stimulated by overproduction of male hormones.

Skin abnormalities: Women with PCOS may notice dark patches of skin, called acanthosis nigricans, most commonly on the back of the neck, but also in skin creases under arms, breasts, and between thighs, occasionally on the hands, elbows, and knees. The darkened skin is usually velvety or rough to the touch. PCOS can also cause skin tags, tiny flaps of skin that usually cause no symptoms.

Polycystic ovaries: Classic PCOS ovaries have a “string of pearls” or “pearl necklace” appearance with many cysts (fluid-filled sacs).

Polycystic ovaries: Classic PCOS ovaries have a “string of pearls” or “pearl necklace” appearance with many cysts (fluid-filled sacs).

Obesity or weight gain: Commonly a woman with PCOS will have what is called an apple figure where excess weight is concentrated heavily in the abdomen, similar to the way men often gain weight, with comparatively narrower arms and legs.

Infertility or reduced fertility: Infertility is the inability to get pregnant within six to 12 months of unprotected intercourse, depending on age. Because women with PCOS do not ovulate regularly, it affects their ability to conceive.

Menstrual irregularities: Women with PCOS may experience infrequent or absent menstrual cycles. Infrequent cycles is defined as having 8 or fewer periods per year. Irregular bleeding may include lengthy bleeding episodes, scant or heavy periods, or frequent spotting. 
Headaches: I suffer from headaches almost daily, and as many as a migraine a week.

Sleeplessness: I have a hard time falling asleep before 4 a.m.

Lack of energy.

Depression.

Allergies.